Multi-stakeholder group to create airshed target system for Alberta's industrial heartland

EDMONTON, ALTA-The Alberta government has set up a new working group whose task will be to build the system that will allocate, monitor and evaluate the cumulative airshed targets for the province's industrial heartland. The working group includes representatives from the Strathcona Industrial Association, Northeast Capital Industrial Association, other industry and environment community members and the provincial government. "By building this system with industry and stakeholders, we can ensure that the targets are achievable and the system works," said Environment Minister Rob Renner. "The targets will also provide an incentive to new and existing facilities to continuously improve their emission control technologies," he added. Over the next year, Alberta Environment will co-ordinate the working group's activities and will take the lead in developing the allocation, verification and monitoring system that will ensure that air quality targets are met. Air quality targets come into effect January 2009 as part of the cumulative effects management framework. All large industrial facilities within this region will be subject to proposed cumulative airshed targets of 25,000 tonnes per year of nitrogen oxide and 28,000 tonnes per year of sulfur dioxide. The air emissions system will be subject to review every five years, at which time the current state of air quality and emissions reduction technologies will be considered. In addition, the Canada-wide Standard for particulate matter and ozone will be applied to the industrial heartland. The industrial heartland project also puts in place a water management framework to ensure water quality and quantity are protected, and establishes guidelines to protect the land in the region. The targets, outcomes and actions apply to all major industrial users in the region.